The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1887-02-01
POOR JOHN /!
BY FLORENCE II. GETCHELL.

d CbS4NCNSG hs
1t was an August day; the heat was
Intense, and Mrs. Ardc, on her way down
town to do some shopping, stopped in at
Mrs. Bray's to rest. She found Mrs.
Bray, looking worn and anxious, busy
mending her little sons d%iminutive knick-
erbockers. She put aside her work at
once, however, on seeing her friend and
begged Mrs. Ardc to sit down.
'Tm real glad you came in" she said,
''for I've been dull enough lately and
haven't gone anywhere or seen anybody ~
"Have you been sick p asked Mrs.
Ardc.
"Well, I can't say I've been actually
sick, though I've had the headache al
most constantly. But I haven't felt in
the mood for any amusement. I often
think have more trouble than any one
else living. I tell John it's no wonder
I'm getting gray SC fast. I'll look like
IN old woman long before my time"
"What is the matter 2" asked Mrs.
Arde.
"Well, in the first place, there's to be
new superintendent ut the mills on the
hrst OF September, and I expect nothing
else but that John will lose his place."
"Why, isn'the liked 2"
"Xv,Abut there arc always so many
discharges when a new superintendent
comes in. If John loses his place 1 don't
know what we will do-go t. tho poor
house, suppose"
"Not so bad as that, 1 hope;" and
Mrs. Ardc could not reprcss a smile.
Eat least not while you own such a nice
cottage as that you have just built on
Pierce street. Mr.. Arde and I drove
past it yesterday and admired it very
much"
ooh, that's just another source of
trouble. We built it to rent, you know,
and it has been finished three weeks, and
no sign of a tenant yet. 1 tell John it
will eat its head off. 1t was a great
mistake to build so far out. People
won't 60 out there to live; it's too incon-
~enient. I was saying to John yesterday
that it wouldn't surprise me at all if we
didn't rent it for o ycar-and think
what o lossn"
"Of course you remember the old soy
ing about crossing a bridge before you
come to it'll" said Mrs. Ardc.
ooh, it's easy for you to talk; it isn't
your bridge" was the rcjoinder. 81
wouldn't worry about the house so much
If 1t were not that we arc anticipating q
heavy loss in another direction. John
very foolishly went security Oh a note
for two hundred dollars, which will fall
due in three days. Not a word have we
heard from the man who owes it, and I
am morally certain he won't pay q cent of
It. l feel fairly sick whenever 1 think of
1t. told John yesterday that I'd never
forgive him if he ever went security for
any one again. I don't think a man
ought to ask such q favor; it is taking a
mean advantage of friendship"
"Why not hope that the note .iU be
paida" asked Mrs. Ardc gently.
There's no ground for hope" and
Mrs. Bray sighed heavily. elbow we are
to manage I don't know, for it took
svery cent we'd laid by to build that
cottage; and I told John when it was
finished that we'd have to scrimp more
than ever now. And we must calculate
on a heavy doctors bill too"
"Why SOL"
"Well, Georgia had the diptheria last
january, you know, and all but died,
and it stands to reason he'll have it
again, his throat's so tender. Pm wor-
ricd about him nil tho time. I don't
take q moments peace. Life is so
strange! 1t does seem rs if some people
were shut off from everything like en-
joyment. With me it's nothing but care
and trouble from the beginning to the
end of every year"
II nave always maintained that life is
pretty much as We mako it," said Mrs
Ardc quietly, as she rose to go. "Of
course trouble comes upon US sometimes
we must expect that-but it's q bad
plan to borrow it. / think it is better
to hope for tho best under all circum-